Hip exerciser

ABSTRACT

A hip exerciser usable by a bedridden patient which includes a rigid frame positionable adjacent the patient and an elongated, rigid member supported by said frame and having an intermediate part pivotally connected to the frame so as to be swingable about a substantially vertical axis. The elongated member is adapted to be positioned over the patient with the pivotal axis thereof generally intersecting the anatomical center of the femoral head of a selected leg of the patient. One end part of the elongated member carries means for supporting the leg of the patient and the opposite end part of the elongated member is positionable within arm&#39;&#39;s reach of the patient to enable the patient to grasp or otherwise engage the opposite end part of the elongated member to swing the member about its pivot connection and to cause shiftable movement of the supported leg.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Louis R. Fry

4465 Forest S. L., Mercer Island, Wash. 98040 [21] Appl. No. 2,577 [22] Filed Jan. 13, 1970 [45] Patented Oct. 12,1971

[54] RIP EXERCISER 12 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 123/25 R, 5/81 B, 5/92, 272/80 [51] Int. Cl A61h 1/02 [50] Field of Search 128/24, 24.1, 24.2, 25, 25 B; 5/81, 83, 84, 92; 272/79, 80

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,350,297 8/1920 Cooley 5/81 R 1,385,424 7/1921 Billings 5/81 R 2,183,265 12/1939 Maloney ABSTRACT: A hip exerciser usable by a bedridden patient which includes a rigid frame positionable adjacent the patient and an elongated, rigid member supported by said frame and having an intermediate part pivotally connected to the frame so as to be swingable about a substantially vertical axis. The elongated member is adapted to be positioned over the patient with the pivotal axis thereof generally intersecting the anatomical center of the femoral head of a selected leg of the patient. One end part of the elongated member carries means for supporting the leg of the patient and the opposite end part of the elongated member is positionable within arm 5 reach of the patient to enable the patient to grasp or otherwise engage the opposite end part of the elongated member to swing the member about its pivot connection and to cause shiftable movement of the supported leg.

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ATTORNEYS HIP EXERCISER SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a hip exerciser principally for the use of a bedridden patient as a part of his postoperative therapy.

The hip exerciser of this invention includes a rigid support which is positionable adjacent the patient and a rigid elongated member having an intermediate part pivotally connected to the support so as to be swingable about a substantially vertical axis. The elongated member is positionable over the patient with the pivotal axis thereof generally intersecting the anatomical center of the femoral head or hip ball of a selected leg of the patient. One end part of the elongated member carries means for supporting the selected leg and the opposite end part of the elongated member is positionable within arm's reach of the patient so as to enable the patient to grasp or otherwise engage the opposite end part and swing the elongated member about its pivot connection to cause movement of his supported leg.

Through the means of this invention the patient may move his leg in abduction and adduction with a minimum of effort and discomfort. Additionally, a restrictive member may be attached to the support and to the elongated member so as to restrict or limit the swing of the elongated member and further to cause the supported leg to be returned to a selected position of abduction when the patient is not actively using the exerciser. The hip exerciser of this invention is designed to support a patients limb and yet allow controlled movement of the leg and resulting movement of component parts of the hip joint. This invention will have use in postoperative therapy in prosthetic operations or other .types of arthroplasty operations and can be utilized with the supported leg placed in traction.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an exercise device which enables a bedridden patient to shift his leg in abduction and adduction.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hip exerciser usable by a bedridden patient which enables a selected leg of the patient to be placed in traction and moved in abduction and adduction.

It is another object of this invention to provide a hip exerciser usable by a bedridden patient which is of simple operation.

It is another object of this invention to provide a hip exerciser usable by a bedridden patient in which a leg of the patient is normally supported in abduction and which allows the patient to shift the leg into wider abduction and adduction with a minimum of discomfort.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon a reading of the invention s description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the hip exerciser mounted over a bedridden patient and shown supporting one leg of the patient in slight abduction.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the hip exerciser illustrated in FIG. 1 showing the leg of the patient in wide abduction.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 showing the swivel assembly of the exerciser of this invention with portions thereof broken away for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of the swivel assembly shown in FIG. 3 as seen from line 4-4 thereof.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of that portion of the hip exerciser illustrated in FIG. 1 enclosed by broken line 5.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the hip exerciser shown mounted over a bedridden patient.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified swivel assembly of this invention.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view of the swivel assembly shown in FIG. 8 as seen from line 9-9 thereof.

FIG. I0 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The preferred embodiments illustrated are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. They are chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its application and practical use to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention.

One embodiment of the exerciser of this invention is illustrated in perspective form in FIGS. 1 and 2. A support, such as an overhead bar 10, is positioned adjacent the patient 12 lying upon hospital bed 14. Overhead bar 10 preferably extends the full length of bed 14 and is supported above the bed substantially paralleling the level of the bed mattress 15, by vertical posts of stanchions I6. Stanchions 16 have the upper ends thereof clamped to bar I0 and the intermediate portions thereof clamped or similarly attached to the head and foot frames I8 of bed 14. Overhead bar 10 and supporting stanchions 16 are commonly used in hospitals to provide patient assistance in getting into and out of bed and as fracture equipment.

Depending from an intermediate part of overhead bar 10 is a swivel assembly 20. Swivel assembly 20, which is shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4, is preferably of elongated tubular construction having a standard end clamp 22 fixedly connected to the upper end of the assembly and another standard end clamp 24 pivotally connected to the lower end of the assembly. Upper end clamp 22 serves to attach swivel assembly 20 to bar 10. A rigid elongated bar or member 26 is connected to the lower end of swivel assembly 20 by means of end clamp 24 which encircles an intermediate part of member 26.

Referring to FIG. 3, swivel assembly 20 includes a tubular part 28. Clamp 22 at the upper end of assembly 20 includes a cylindrical neck part 120 which protrudes into the upper end of tubular part 28 and is fixedly retained therein by pin I22. Clamp 24, like clamp 22, includes a fixed clamp member 30 and a pivoted clamp member 31. Clamp member 30 includes a cylindrical neck part 32 which is separated from the remainder of clamp member 30 by a shoulder 34. Neck part 32 of the clamp member protrudes into the lower end of tubular part 28 and is spaced therefrom by a flanged sleeve 36 which is preferably pressed into the lower end of tubular part 28 and which encircles neck part 32 of the clamp member with slight clearance. Sleeve 36 is preferably constructed from an antifriction material, such as polytetrafluorocthylene. A plug 38 is complementally received within tubular part 28 and is spaced slightly above the end of clamp neck part 32. Plug 38 is fixedly positioned within tubular part 28 by means of setscrews 40 as shown. A support part 42 having a disk-shaped top 44 and a leg 46 extending concentrically downwardly from the top is positioned within tubular part 28. Leg 46 of support part 42 projects with clearance through a central bore 48 in plug 38 and into an axial bore 50 in neck part 32 of clamp member 30. Leg 46 of support part 42 is secured within clamp bore 50 by means of a setscrew 52, as shown, with top 44 thereof slightly spaced from the upper surface of plug 38. A bearing race 54 is formed about leg 46 of support part 42 and is defined by complemental annular grooves in the lower surface of support part top 44 and the upper surface of plug 38. Disposed within race 54 are a plurality of spherical bearing members 56. Clamp 24 and support part 42 rotate as a unit relative to tubular part 28 and plug 38.

The pivotal axis of swivel assembly 20 intersects the axis of elongated member 26 at a substantially right angle. Tubular part 28 is preferably vertically oriented with elongated member 26 being pivotal in a substantially horizontal plane about the axis of the swivel assembly. Swivel assembly 20 provides relative rotative movement between tubular part 28 thereof and end clamp 24.

In order to restrict or regulate the degree of swing of elongated member 26, a restrictor may be attached between elongated member 26 and overhead bar 10. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, restrictor 80 includes upper end clamp 82 and a lower end clamp 84 interconnected by telescopic member 86 and 88. Outer telescopic member 88 has a roll pin or rod 90 which transversely extends through the free end of the member and which is preferably retained therein by a press fit. A sleeve 92 encircles the free end of inner telescopic member 86 and protrudes beyond the end edge of member 86. A roll pin or rod 94 extends transversely through sleeve 92 and telescopic member 86, as shown, and is preferably retained therein by a press fit. A helical spring 96, serving to normally position telescopic members 86 and 88 in a retracted position, is disposed within members 86 and 88 and has its ends formed into hooks 98 and 99 which respectively encircle rods 90 and 94. A block 100 is pressed into the free end of telescopic member 88 and the protruding end part of sleeve 92 secured to telescopic member 86. Each block 100 has a bore therethrough which is preferably coaxial with telescopic member 88 or sleeve 92 and which receives a pin 102. Each pin 102 is secured to its receiving block by means of at least one setscrew 104, as shown in FIG. 6, and protrudes outwardly therefrom. Setscrew 104 also assures that block 100 is retained within its receiving telescopic member 88 or sleeve 92. A housing 106 having a cylindrical cavity 108 formed therein is bolted or otherwise secured to fixed member 110 of each clamp 82 and 84. Each housing 106 includes an end wall 112 having and aperture 114 formed therein. A bearing washer 116, preferably formed of an antifriction material such as polytetrafluoroethylene, is inserted within each housing cavity 108 and abuts end wall 112 thereof. The aperture in each bearing washer 116 is preferably slightly smaller in diameter than aperture 114 in the housing end wall. The protruding end portion of each pin 102 is threaded and projects with clearance through an aperture 114 and the aperture in bearing washer 116 into cavity 108 of a housing 106. A bearing part 118 having a threaded bore therethrough is positioned with clearance within the cavity 108 of each housing 106 and is turned onto the threaded end portion of the pin 102. Each bearing part 108 includes a spherical outer surface 102 which exceeds in transverse dimension the aperture diameter of washer 116 and which abuts and makes sliding contact with the washer. The diameters of aperture 114 in housing end wall 112 and the aperture in bearing washer 116 are sufficiently larger than the diameter of pin 102 protruding therethrough to permit not only rotative movement but also rocking movement of the pin relative to its interconnected clamp.

To set up the exerciser, the overhead bar 10 and stanchions 16 are shifted laterally along bedframes 18 until the bar is positioned directly over a selected leg of patient 12. Upper end clamp 22 is loosened, and swivel assembly 20 and attached elongated member 26 are shifted along overhead bar 10 until the pivotal axis of the swivel assembly substantially intersects the anatomical center of the femoral head or hip ball of the selected leg of patient 12. Clamp 22 is then tightened. A sling 122 which is suspended from an adjustable chain 124 attached by a clamp 126 to one end of elongated member 26 is positioned around the lower part of the patients selected leg. A second sling 122 which is suspended from an adjustable chain 124 attached by a clamp 126 to elongated member 26 between the swivel assembly connection thereto and the firstmentioned sling clamp 126 is positioned around the upper part of the selected leg. The number and size of slings used to support the leg may vary. A grip or handle 128 is attached to the opposite end of elongated member 26 and is positioned within arm s reach of patient 12. Sling chains 124 are preferably adjusted so that the weight of the leg is fully supported by the slings and the leg is slightly elevated. The patient by gripping handle 128 can swing elongated member 26 about the pivotal axis of the swivel assembly in a substantially horizontal plane and move his leg between abduction and adduction, thus causing exercising movement of the hip.

If the patients selected leg is to normally rest in adduction when the exerciser is not in active use, restrictor 80 may be attached by upper end clamp 82 to overhead bar and by lower end clamp 84 to elongated member 26 at a location spaced from the pivotal axis of member 26. The length of restrictor 80 relative to the length of swivel assembly 20 is such that telescopic members 86 and 88 of the restrictor are retracted when the leg is in adduction. When the patient grasps handle 128 and swings the elongated member 26 so as to cause his leg to be placed in abduction, telescopic members 86 and 88 are extended with spring 96 therein serving to limit the extent of ab duction. Release of handle 128 permits spring 96 to contract and cause retraction of the telescopic member, thus automatically repositioning the leg in adduction.

if it is desired to normally have the selected leg of the patient rest in abduction when the exerciser is not in active use, restrictor 80 is laterally offset from the axis of overhead bar 10, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. This can be accomplished by attaching a lateral bar 130 to overhead bar by means of a clamp 132. The upper end clamp of restrictor 80 is attached to bar 130 with the lateral displacement of clamp 82 from the axis of overhead bar 10 substantially determining the degree of abduction the leg will normally rest in. This arrangement will permit the patient to swing the elongated member 26 by means of handle 128 to place his leg in wider abduction and, if desired, to move the leg in adduction. When the exerciser is not being actively used by the patient, restrictor 80 will serve to reposition the leg in normal abduction. To provide for further adjustment of restrictor member 80, lateral bar 130 can be adjustably clamped to a depending short bar 134, as illustrated in FIG. 7.

Referring in greater detail to FIG. 7, the embodiment shown herein is illustrative of the hip exerciser of this invention being utilized with the patients leg in traction. This arrangement of the invention maintains the hip in traction so that granulation tissue and eventually fibrocartilage will grow over the surface of the femoral head and acetabulum of the hip to promote and accelerate better healing of the affected hip joint. In this embodiment of the invention overhead bar 10 and stanchions l6, swivel assembly 20, and restrictor 80 are utilized in a manner similar to that described in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Elongated member 26' is longer than previously described member 26 so as to enable selected weights and pulleys, as illustrated in H0. 7, to be suspended therefrom without making interfering contact with the head and foot frame of the bed 14. Elongated member 26' includes a plurality of pulleys 136 attached thereto. A vertical bar 138 is attached to distal end of the leg-supporting portion of elongated member 26' and has a pulley 137 attached thereto. Slings 122 serve to elevate the selected leg and are supported in elevated position by means of weights 140 interconnected to respective slings by cables 142. A cuff 144 encircles the ankle of the patients leg and is interconnected to a weight 146 by means of a cable 148 trained about pulley 137 and selected pulleys 136 so as to place the leg in traction. Weights 140 and 146 and associated tractive equipment are preferably connected to or supported solely by elongated member 26 and shiftable therewith. By means of this embodiment, the leg may be positioned in various positions of abduction in a manner like that previously described in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

P16. 8 illustrates a modified type of swivel assembly, designated generally by the reference numeral which may be used to interconnected overhead bar 10 and elongated member 26. Clamp 24 is pivotally connected to the lower end of tubular part 28 as previously described. Tubular part 28 is preferably capped at its upper end and is connected to overhead bar 10 by a cross clamp 124. Cross clamp 124 includes a fixed member 136 and two pivoted clamping parts 128 which serve to connect horizontal overhead bar 10 and the upper end portion 129 of vertically oriented tubular part 28. A short tubular bar 55 is connected to tubular part 28 by clamp 24. Bar 55 is pivotal in a substantially horizontal plane about the vertically oriented tubular part 28. One end of bar 55 is preferably capped by a plug 57. A clamp 58 is swivel connected to the opposite end of bar 55.

Clamp 58 includes a fixed member 59 having a cylindrical neck part 60 which is defined in part by clamp shoulder 61 and which projects into the open end of bar 55. A flanged sleeve 62, preferably formed of an antifriction material such as polytetrafluoroethylene, is pressed into the open end of bar 55 and encircles neck part 60 of clamp 58 with slight clearance. To assure that sleeve 62 is not dislodged from bar 55 during use of the swivel assembly, setscrews 64 may be utilized, as shown, to secure the sleeve to the bar. A washer 66 having an outer diameter which is less than the minimum inner diameter of bar 55 is positioned transversely within the bar with its circumferential margin abutting the inner end face 68 of sleeve 62, as shown in FIG. 3 A cylindrical spacer 70 is positioned between washer 66 and end face 72 of neck part 60. Washer 66 is secured to neck part 60 of clamp 58 by means of a headed screw 74 which extends coaxially through the washer and spacer and is threaded into a coaxial threaded bore 76 in neck part 60. Spacer 70 is preferably of sufficient length so that with the washer 66 abutting end face 68 of the sleeve clamp shoulder M is slightly spaced from the flanged end of sleeve 62 as shown. Clamp 58 and washer 66 are free to rotate relative to bar 55 and sleeve 62 therein. Elongated member 26 is connected to bar 55 by clamp 58 and is pivotal in substantially horizontal and vertical planes.

ln utilizing swivel assembly 20' with the exerciser of this invention, restrictor 80 is adjustably mounted to overhead bar as shown in FIG. 7 and is positioned so that it exerts an upward pull on elongated member 26 at all times and causes the patients leg to be fully supported by the elongated member and to be preferably elevated. As a contemplated modification, a ball joint connection could be substituted for clamps 24 and 58 at the lower end of swivel assembly In each of the embodiments illustrated in this invention handle l28 attached to elongated members 26 and 26' of the exerciser may be removed and an arm sling substituted therefor. Additionally, restrictor 80 need not be limited to the telescopic construction illustrated but may consist of a chain having one end attached to lateral bar 130 and having its other end interconnected to the elongated member by means of a helical Spring.

It is to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the details herein given but it may be modified within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A hip exerciser usable by a bedridden patient comprising:

a support positionable adjacent said patient, a rigid elongated member pivotally connected at a part intermediate its ends to said support and swingable about a generally vertical pivot axis, said elongated member being positionable over said patient with said pivot axis generally intersecting the anatomical center of the hip joint ball of a selected leg of the patient, one end part of said elongated member carrying means for supporting said selected leg, the other end part of said elongated member being positionable within arm's reach of said patient to enable said patient to operatively engage the other end of said elongated member and swing said member to cause abductive and adductive movement of the selected leg.

2. The exerciser of claim l, wherein said support includes a vertical support part having said elongated member connected to the lower end thereof.

3. The exerciser of claim 2, wherein said vertical support includes a swiveled clamp at the lower end thereof, the intermediate part of said elongated member connected to said vertical support by said clamp.

4. The exerciser of claim 2, wherein said vertical support includes a swiveled clamp at the lower end thereof, a bar part pivotal in a substantially horizontal plane held by said clamp, said bar part having a second swiveled clamp connected thereto, the intermediate part of said elongated member held by said second clamp.

5. The exerciser of claim 1 and means for restricting the swin of said elongated member.

6. he exerciser of claim 5 wherein restricting means IS an extensible member having one end anchored to said support and the other end anchored to said elongated member spaced from its pivot connection to said support.

7. The exerciser of claim 6, wherein said extensible member has a retracted position in which said selected leg may be caused to rest in adduction or slight abduction and an extended position which limits abductive movement of said selected leg.

8. The exerciser of claim 6, wherein said extensible member is a helical spring having one end connected to said support and the other end connected to said elongated member spaced from its pivot connection to said support.

9. The exerciser of claim 8, wherein the ends of said helical spring are swivel connected to said support and elongated member.

10. The exerciser of claim 1, wherein said elongated member carries pulley means, said leg-supporting means including a sling, and a cable supporting said sling trained over said pulley means and having one end connected to a weight.

11. The exerciser of claim 1, wherein said elongated member includes pulley means, a cable trained over said pulley means and having one end adapted for tractive attachment to said selected leg and an opposite end having a weight suspended from said elongated member attached thereto.

12. The exerciser of claim 11, wherein said elongated member includes a depending part located at the distal end of the leg-supporting portion of said elongated member and adapted for positioning beyond the end of said selected leg, said depending part carrying said pulley means over which said cable is trained. 

1. A hip exerciser usable by a bedridden patient comprising: a support positionable adjacent said patient, a rigid elongated member pivotally connected at a part intermediate its ends to said support and swingable about a generally vertical pivot axis, said elongated member being positionable over said patient with said pivot axis generally intersecting the anatomical center of the hip joint ball of a selected leg of the patient, one end part of said elongated member carrying means for supporting said selected leg, the other end part of said elongated member being positionable within arm'' s reach of said patient to enable said patient to operatively engage the other end of said elongated member and swing said member to cause abductive and adductive movement of the selected leg.
 2. The exerciser of claim 1, wherein said support includes a vertical support part having said elongated member connected to the lower end thereof.
 3. The exerciser of claim 2, wherein said vertical support includes a swiveled clamp at the lower end thereof, the intermediate part of said elongated member connected to said vertical support by said clamp.
 4. The exerciser of claim 2, wherein said vertical support includes a swiveled clamp at the lower end thereof, a bar part pivotal in a substantially horizontal plane held by said clamp, said bar part having a second swiveled clamp connected thereto, the intermediate part of said elongated member held by said second clamp.
 5. The exerciser of claim 1 and means for restricting the swing of said elongated member.
 6. The exerciser of claim 5 wherein restricting means is an extensible member having one end anchored to said support and the other end anchored to said elongated member spaced from its pivot connection to said support.
 7. The exerciser of claim 6, wherein said extensible member has a retracted position in which said selected leg may be caused to rest in adduction or slight abduction and an extended position which limits abductive movement of said selected leg.
 8. The exerciser of claim 6, wherein said extensible member is a helical spring having one end connected to said support and the other end connected to said elongated member spaced from its pivot connection to said support.
 9. The exerciser of claim 8, wherein the ends of said helical spring are swivel connected to said support and elongated member.
 10. The exerciser of claim 1, wherein said elongated member carries pulley means, said leg-supporting means including a sling, and a cable supporting said sling trained over said pulley means and having one end connected to a weight.
 11. The exerciser of claim 1, wherein said elongated member includes pulley means, a cable trained over said pulley means and having one end adapted for tractive attachment to said selected leg and an opposite end having a weight suspended from said elongated member attached thereto.
 12. The exerciser of claim 11, wherein said elongated member includes a depending part located at the distal end of the leg-supporting portion of said elongated member and adapted for positioning beyond the end of said selected leg, said depending part carrying said pulley means over which said cable is trained. 